West End Poetry Festival 2025

Thursday, October 16 │ Steel String Brewery at 106-A S. Greensboro Street, Carrboro

• 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Join the Carrboro Poet’s Council for a reading & collaborative poem.  Hear poems from Gilbert-Chappell Mentorship Series Poet Kelsey Weimar.  Stay for a fun open mic experience!

Friday, October 17 │ Drakeford Library Complex at 203 S. Greensboro Street, Carrboro

• 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - Youth Writing Workshop with NC Youth Poet Laureate Rishi Janakiraman
• 7:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. - Join us for a reception on the 3rd floor terrace.
• 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Poetry reading from Carlina Duan and Meg Day, followed by a conversation between the two and questions and answer session.

Saturday, October 18 │ Carrboro Century Center at 100 N. Greensboro Street, Carrboro

• 12:30 p.m. - Join us for coffee and biscuits!
• 1:00 p.m. - Welcome from Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee, Reading by School Youth Poets Laureate, NC Youth Poet Laureate Rishi Janakiraman and Farmer's Market Seedling Day Poems read by youth
• 1:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Book poets reading 
  • Jameela Fay Dallis
  • Erin Miller
  • Vince Kopp
  • Crystal Simone Smith
• 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Coffee and snacks, publishers and tables, books for sale
• 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. - Poetry reading with Liza Wolff-Francis & James Davis May
• 5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. - Poetry in the Round
• 5:45 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Dinner from Carrburritos
• 6:30 p.m. - Craft Talk - "The Art of Futility" with James Davis May

Saturday, October 18 │Steel String Brewery at 106-A S. Greensboro Street, Carrboro

• 8:00 p.m. - Afterparty and Open Mic